TdF '21 Discussion Thread Stage 21 Jul18 SPOILER ALERT
Many but not all viewers are familiar with the unique arrangement of this final-stage tradition.
This final stage is a 65-mile flat stage from 33 or so miles to the Champs Elysees, passing Versailles and a few other points of note along the way. Then, the final 32 miles is performed as eight circuits of about four miles each, up and down the Champs Elysees. Finish is on this circuit's straight-away after the final time around Le Arc de Triomf.
The road is broad - obviously. But the turns serve to spread the riders out pretty well. This is definitely a sprinter's stage. As they loop, a few yahoos will "attack" off the front, but will ceremoniously get swallowed up. Great face-time for the sponsors. Toward the final couple of miles, the sprinter teams and sprinters really work for position. As noted, the sharp turn every two miles, and the severe pace, make this very difficult. As the end approaches, Morkov leads out Cavendish who stuns everyone with yet another rocket-like performance, grabbing the All-Time-Stage-Winner recognition, which will stand for at least three decades.
But it doesn't have to be like this. You could break the cycle. A non-threatening group could attack off the front, early on. Just for a bit of notoriety. As was done on Stage 19. The peloton would bring them back. But if the pace is fierce enough, and if there are several sustained attacks, in time-trial style, the riders would get spread out enough to upset the predictable ending.
Either way, champagne will be sipped.
Many but not all viewers are familiar with the unique arrangement of this final-stage tradition.
This final stage is a 65-mile flat stage from 33 or so miles to the Champs Elysees, passing Versailles and a few other points of note along the way. Then, the final 32 miles is performed as eight circuits of about four miles each, up and down the Champs Elysees. Finish is on this circuit's straight-away after the final time around Le Arc de Triomf.
The road is broad - obviously. But the turns serve to spread the riders out pretty well. This is definitely a sprinter's stage. As they loop, a few yahoos will "attack" off the front, but will ceremoniously get swallowed up. Great face-time for the sponsors. Toward the final couple of miles, the sprinter teams and sprinters really work for position. As noted, the sharp turn every two miles, and the severe pace, make this very difficult. As the end approaches, Morkov leads out Cavendish who stuns everyone with yet another rocket-like performance, grabbing the All-Time-Stage-Winner recognition, which will stand for at least three decades.
But it doesn't have to be like this. You could break the cycle. A non-threatening group could attack off the front, early on. Just for a bit of notoriety. As was done on Stage 19. The peloton would bring them back. But if the pace is fierce enough, and if there are several sustained attacks, in time-trial style, the riders would get spread out enough to upset the predictable ending.
Either way, champagne will be sipped.
